Sports Media News

HBO SPORTS’ 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO,

A FOUR-EPISODE, ALL-ACCESS SERIES LEADING UP TO THE

PAY-PER-VIEW SHOWDOWN AT COWBOYS STADIUM,

DEBUTS OCT. 23, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2010 – HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 12 Sports Emmy® Awards, returns in October for its ninth boxing installment with 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO, an all-new four-episode, all-access series, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports.  Debuting SATURDAY, OCT. 23 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), the series will follow two elite fighters at different stages – the brilliant Manny Pacquiao, in the prime of his record-setting career, and the reinstated Antonio Margarito, looking for redemption following his involvement in an attempted “loaded gloves” incident – as they prepare for their Nov. 13 pay-per-view showdown at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex.

Noted Greenburg, “ ‘24/7’ excels when there is great drama and this fight has it.  Manny Pacquiao continues to conquer new challenges in the ring and in his life, while Antonio Margarito returns to the ring having been through a very controversial episode that polarized many in the boxing community.  ‘24/7’ will examine all aspects of what has taken place since the night Antonio Margarito fought Shane Mosley.  We will chronicle the suspension handed down to Margarito and the subsequent reinstatement process.”

Episodes two and three of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO debut on subsequent Saturdays – Oct. 30 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and Nov. 6 (10:45-11:15 p.m.) – while the finale debuts Friday, Nov. 12 (9:30-10:00 p.m.), the night before the intriguing showdown.  All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.

24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their showdown.  The low-key Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), who has grown into a worldwide superstar, hails from the Philippines, where he is a cherished icon and was recently elected to Congress.  Margarito’s (38-6, 27 KOs) climb to boxing’s elite level is rooted in Tijuana, Mexico; he was among the most feared welterweights in the early part of this decade.

This fast-paced series will capture the interactions and rigors both men experience in preparing for their contest.  Making his fourth “24/7” appearance, Pacquiao is expected to surround himself with a familiar contingent of family and friends as he trains with trusted longtime associate Freddy Roach.  Margarito is making his “24/7” debut.

24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO is the latest installment of the acclaimed “24/7” franchise that began in 2007.  At the 2010 Sports Emmy® Awards, “24/7” was recognized with five Emmys® for production excellence and is the most honored sports series on television over the past three years, earning 12 Sports Emmys®.

The St. Petersburg Times has noted, “The best sports reality show on television is HBO’s 24/7.”

On Saturday, Nov. 13 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Pacquiao vs. Margarito,” live from the spectacular Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex.

The executive producers of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Jonathan Crystal and Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen.  Liev Schreiber narrates.

THE VEGAS STRIP HEATS UP WITH A FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE

UNIFICATION SHOWDOWN WHEN HBO SPORTS® PRESENTS

HBO BOXING AFTER DARK®:  YURIORKIS GAMBOA VS. ORLANDO SALIDO

AND ANTHONY PETERSON VS. BRANDON RIOS SATURDAY, SEPT. 11

HBO’s hit late-night boxing series features a featherweight clash of reigning titleholders plus a lightweight thriller when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK:  YURIORKIS GAMBOA VS. ORLANDO SALIDO AND ANTHONY PETERSON VS. BRANDON RIOS is seen SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) from the Pearl at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, exclusively on HBO.  The HBO Sports team of Bob Papa and Max Kellerman will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates:  Sept. 12 (9:00 a.m.) and 13 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Sept. 12 (6:00 p.m.) and 13 (12:05 a.m.)

In a battle of featherweight beltholders, Yuriorkis Gamboa (18-0, 15 KOs) of Miami, Fla. goes toe-to-toe with Orlando Salido (34-10, 22 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico in a scheduled 12-round title unification bout.  On a fast track to stardom, Gamboa won a gold medal for Cuba in the flyweight boxing division at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, and captured a featherweight title after just 15 pro fights.  He’s widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters today, with blazing hand speed, supplemented by brute power, that often puts thunderstruck opponents on the canvas in the early rounds.

The heavy-hitting Salido, who bypassed the amateur ranks and went straight to the pros at age 16, might be called “The Avenger,” having won re-matches against all but one of the men who defeated him early in his career.  He will draw on his greater experience and highly touted knockout capability against the more explosive Gamboa.

The opening bout is a 12-round lightweight clash of undefeated fighters, pitting Anthony Peterson (30-0, 20 KOs) of Memphis, Tenn. against Brandon Rios (24-0, 18 KOs) of Oxnard, Cal. in a 135-pound slugfest.  These two warriors boast a combined 54-0 record, with an astonishing 38 KOs.  In what could be a classic battle, Peterson hopes to use his grace, quick feet and picture-perfect technique to withstand Rios’ notorious aggression and powerful combinations.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Mike Sheehan.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK and related marks are registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

HBO SPORTS HEADS NORTH OF THE BORDER FOR A

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE SHOWDOWN WHEN

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^®:  JEAN PASCAL VS. CHAD DAWSON

IS SEEN LIVE SATURDAY, AUG. 14 ON HBO

Strength meets finesse in a light heavyweight title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING:  JEAN PASCAL VS. CHAD DAWSON is presented live SATURDAY, AUG. 14 (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT) from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, exclusively on HBO.  The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING team will be ringside for the event, which will be closed-captioned for the hearing impaired, presented in HDTV and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates:  Aug. 15 (8:30 a.m.) and 16 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Aug. 15 (6:15 p.m.) and 17 (11:45 p.m.)

Light heavyweight champ Jean Pascal of Laval, Canada (25-1, 16 KOs) fights before hometown fans in his third light heavyweight title defense, meeting Chad Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs) of New Haven, Ct. in a scheduled 12-round tilt.  Known for his tremendous strength and punching power, the ferocious Haitian-born slugger will be doing battle at the venue where he has won his last three fights in convincing fashion.

Making his third HBO appearance, two-time 175-pound champ Chad Dawson is hungry for his third world title in as many years.  Though not the flashiest fighter, the 27-year-old southpaw is one of the purest boxers in the sport, boasting silky technique and picture-perfect form.  While Pascal enjoys a strength advantage, the American is taller and has a longer reach.  In addition, Pascal has never faced a left-hander at 175 pounds before and Dawson’s lightning hand speed should pose a special challenge for the champ.

All HBO boxing events are broadcast in HDTV.  HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Marc Payton.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

HBO’S LATE-NIGHT FIGHT SERIES VISITS ST. LOUIS FOR THE

FIRST TIME TO PRESENT TWO TITLE SHOWDOWNS WHEN

HBO BOXING AFTER DARK^®:  DEVON ALEXANDER VS. ANDRIY KOTELNIK

AND TAVORIS CLOUD VS. GLEN JOHNSON IS SEEN SATURDAY, AUG. 7

HBO’s hit late-night boxing series features a junior welterweight title slugfest and a light heavyweight championship showdown when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK:  DEVON ALEXANDER VS. ANDRIY KOTELNIK AND TAVORIS CLOUD VS. GLEN JOHNSON is seen SATURDAY, AUG. 7 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, exclusively on HBO.  The HBO Sports team of Bob Papa and Max Kellerman will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates:  Aug. 8 (10:15 a.m.) and 9 (11:50 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Aug. 8 (5:45 p.m.) and 10 (11:00 p.m.)

Undefeated junior welterweight champ Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs) will do battle in front of hometown fans as defends his belts against Andriy Kotelnik (31-3, 13 KOs) of Hamburg, Germany, in a scheduled 12-round title bout.  Just 23, Alexander is already a force in the 140-pound weight class:  Making his HBO debut last March, he knocked out highly touted Colombian brawler Juan Urango in a title unification bout.

But Alexander hasn’t previously encountered a boxer as experienced and talented as Kotelnik, a former junior welterweight champ who successfully defended his title against the likes of powerhouse Marcos Maidana.  Fighting as a lightweight, he also won a silver medal for Ukraine in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.  Though Kotelnik will be fighting in a hostile environment, he doesn’t shy away from challenges.

The opening bout is a 12-round slugfest featuring undefeated light heavyweight titleholder Tavoris Cloud (20-0,18 KOs) of Tallahassee, Fla. and former light heavyweight champ Glen Johnson (50-13-2, 34 KOs) of Miami, Fla.  Appearing on HBO for the first time, Cloud is a power puncher who embodies the principle that the best defense is a good offense.  In his title-winning victory over Clinton Woods, Cloud threw more 1,000 punches.  Making his fifth HBO appearance, battle-tested veteran Johnson is once again in position to spring a big surprise.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Mike Sheehan.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

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HBO LATINO® TO PRESENT THE EXCLUSIVE REPLAY

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ VS. JUAN DIAZ II FRIDAY, AUG. 6

It’s a special edition of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® when HBO Sports presents JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ VS. JUAN DIAZ II, the exclusive replay of their lightweight championship showdown, this FRIDAY, AUG. 6 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on HBO Latino.  The Spanish language broadcast team of Mario Solis and Genaro Hernandez, who were ringside for the live event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, will call all the action.

Two of the sport’s most accomplished and admired warriors, Marquez and Diaz met July 31 in a highly anticipated rematch, carried live on HBO Pay-Per-View, with Marquez scoring a convincing unanimous decision victory.

The Marquez-Diaz II replay will also be presented on HBO Latino on Saturday, Aug. 7, immediately following the live “HBO Boxing After Dark” doubleheader that begins at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) and features junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander vs. Andriy Kotelnik.

HBO On Demand availability:  Aug. 9-30

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.